THE IMPORTANCE OF GODLY WISDOM – Part Three

In the book of Hosea we read,“My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge...” (Hosea 4:6)

We all need Godly wisdom in life to succeed

• As believers we have the ability to live a life of great purpose and meaning as we help others to come to Christ so that they too can receive the gift of eternal life

• For this reason the enemy (the Devil) will continually try and sidetrack us and discourage us from being all that God has planned for our life

• Every believer has the potential to make a great difference in this world for eternity

God has a unique plan for every person’s life that begins the moment they come to Christ

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

It is in following God’s plan for our life that we experience great purpose and meaning in life

King Solomon knew the importance of having godly wisdom to rule over Israel

When the LORD appeared to King Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted he asked for wisdom to help him to rule over Israel

In the book of 1 Kings we read about the LORD appearing to Solomon in a dream by night

“At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5)

“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

“And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)

“Then God said to him: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

“behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

“And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honour, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.” (1 Kings 3:11-13)

“The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” (1 Kings 3:10)

King Solomon wrote many Proverbs which are in the Bible that can help us to gain wisdom for life.

I will begin by looking at just 6 of these Proverbs that we can gain great wisdom from before looking at five more areas of wisdom that we can learn from the Word of God to help us to live an overcoming Christian walk

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This Proverb gives us great guidance as to how we should live our life as a Christian and the importance of continually trusting the Lord and involving God in all that we do in life

Proverbs 4:23

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)This Proverb emphasises the importance of guarding and protecting our mind and emotions so that we do not allow wrong attitudes to develop in our heart – What is in our heart will invariably be reflected in our words and actions – We must therefore not allow wrong and judgmental attitudes and offenses to develop in our heart

Proverbs 15:1

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

This Proverb emphasises the importance of having self control and not reacting with harsh words which cause strife

Proverbs 21:5

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)

This Proverb emphasises the importance of making plans. Making plans helps us to be fruitful in our lives and to be focused. Prayerfully making plans for our life helps us to see God’s plan for our life unfolding

Proverbs 15:22

“Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22)

This Proverb emphasises the importance of having others speaking into our life. When we receive counsel from other mature Christians, it helps us to make right choices in life and to see God’s plan for our life coming to pass

Proverbs 22:24-25

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” (Proverbs 22:24-25)

We must choose our friends wisely. This Proverb emphasises the dangers of developing close friendships with angry people – We become like the people that we associate with

I will now finish with five more areas of wisdom that we can learn from God’s Word (The bible)

1) The importance of making time to spend with the Lord

(Having intimacy in our walk with the Lord is crucial)

Intimacy with the Lord helps us to: - Maintain our joy and peace in life - Renew our strength, and - To receive clear direction and wisdom for our life from God

King David wrote,

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

In the book of Isaiah we read, “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have

no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

It is so important that we position ourselves and make time to spend with the Lord to hear from Him

In the book of Jeremiah we read, “For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD,

And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?” (Jeremiah 23:18)

If we do not spend quality time with the Lord we are more likely to become troubled about many things in life

In the gospel of Luke we read, “Now it happened as they went that He entered a

certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:38-39)

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

Spending quality time with the Lord is a key to knowing God’s love in a real way, to living an overcoming Christian life and to seeing all that God has planned for our life coming to pass

King David wrote, “O GOD, Your are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul

thirsts for you; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” (Psalm 63:1-3)

2) Continually renewing our mind with

the TRUTH contained in God’s Word

Jesus Himself said, “If you abide in My word you are My

disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

We need to develop Kingdom thinking as we build our life on God’s promises in His Word

Continually meditating on the Word of God helps us to: i) Grow in our faith (Romans 10:17) ii) To maintain our peace during the trials of life (Matthew 11:29-30) (John 16:33) (Isaiah 26:3-4) iii) To grow in Christlike character that we shine brightly in the world (Matthew 5:16) iv) To overcome our fears (the truth sets us free) v) To be continually assured of our eternal hope and future in Christ, (Romans 8:38-39) and vi) To make wise choices in life (Psalm 119:130) (Psalm 119:133)

Continually meditating on the Word of God helps us not to be negatively influenced by the spirit of this

world (i.e. Pride, Lust, Greed, etc) and empowers us to become all that God has planned for our life

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Continually meditating on the Word of God is a key to being prosperous and having good success and to

enjoying fullness of life in every area of our life

The LORD said to Joshua just prior to him leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land,

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

3) Continually having a humble dependence on the Lord

Having a humble dependence on God is a key to;i) Making good choices in lifeii) To stopping pride from developing in our hearts,

especially when we have success in lifeiii)To seeing God’s grace and favour upon our life, and iv)To becoming all that God has planned for our life.

The Apostle Peter wrote, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to

your elders. Yes, all of your be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

In the book of James we read “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and

He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

As we humbly commit our life and plans to the Lord we will see God raising us up to do great things for His glory

The more we humble ourselves the more God can raise us up to do greater things - This is completely different to the ways of the world

In the book of Proverbs we read “Pride goes before destruction, And a

haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18)

“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

In the book of Micah we read,

“He has show you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Walking in humility and having a humble dependence on God is therefore a great key to experiencing the fullness of what God has planned for our life

4) Living a simple life of obedience (Just doing what Jesus tells us to do and being led by the Holy Spirit)

Having a lifestyle of obedience helps us to: i) See God’s continual favour and blessing upon our lives (Isaiah 1:19) Ii) Helps to keep our life uncomplicated Ii) Helps us to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering. (God knows what is best for us) and iv) Is a key to seeing the fullness of what God has planned for our life coming to pass. God has the best plan for our life

Jesus Himself said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we

eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

In the book of Isaiah we read

“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)

5) Always being ready for the return of the Lord and the rapture

• Our faith is the most precious thing that we have• With the imminent return of the Lord how

important it is that our love for Jesus is always our greatest priority

• We are now living in those days that the Apostle Paul referred to as perilous times

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will

come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The Apostle Paul also wrote about the Rapture, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we

who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

All true believers will be raptured to be with the Lord prior to the great tribulation here on earth. As Christians we are not appointed to wrath. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) (Revelation 6:17)

Jesus Himself said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of

many will grow cold, But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)

How important it is in the times that we are now living in that our love for Jesus is our greatest delight and that we enjoy having fellowship with other Christians on a regular basis. We all need each other in the Body of Christ

I will finish by emphasising the importance of meeting with other Christians. Fellowship with other believers is crucial in the days that we are now living in

In the book of Hebrews we read, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without

wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)